Trunk-tray



(No Model.)

S. lVI. MIOHELSON.

TRUNK TRAY.

No. 278,894. 21288881.88 June 5,1888.

NITED STATES PATENT FFIC.

'SIGISMUND ill. MICHELSON, OF DLIILVAUKEE, VISCONSIN.

TRUNK-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 278,994, dated" June 5, 13883.

' Application filed March 27, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIeIsMUND M. MICHEL- son, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Trays, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to trunk-trays; and it consists in movable folding legs attached thereto, as 'will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an open trunk, showing the top tray partly raised and supported in that position by movable legs. Fig. 2 is a view of a tray wholly removed from a trunk and supported upon four movable folding legs. Fig. 3 isa view of a tray provided with two legs, and supported thereon by resting one edge of the tray upon a corner or edge ofthe open trunk. Fig. et is a view of a tray with its legs folded and in position for the tray to be replaced within the trunk, and Figs. .3 and 6 are details of the legs and of the castings whereby they are secured to the trays.

A represents a trunk of ordinary construction provided with the trays B B, and to these trays are attached the movable folding-legs C, which may be of any desired number, but preferably eithertwo or four to each tray.

D are metallic castings, the preferred form of which is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6,

the said casting consisting of a plate, d, having holes to permit of its ready attachment, by screws or otherwise, to the sides or ends of the trays, and a box or housing, d', cast with the said plate and open on one side, as shown.

The legs C are preferably of wood, and may either extend all the way into said housings, or they may be bolted to a shank, C', of wood or metal, (preferably the latten) which is secnred within the housing by a pivot or bolt, (F, on which it freely swings. VThe housings being open at their inner sides, the legs will be permitted to fold freely inward, while the solid outer sides of the housings will prevent them from spreading out too far, so that when the tray is removed the said legs will at once drop down and form a solid support for the 5o notches c in the top surface of the ends of the tray or support beneath. This will enable one to obtain convenient access to articles in either the top tray, or in the tray or trunk beneath the same, without wholly removing the said top tray, and is of itself' a very convenient feature, but the most valuable feature of my invention lies in the convenient manner in which the trays may be disposed about the trunk in packing or unpacking. Heretofore 7o trunk-trays have usually either been placed upon the floor, necessitating continual stooping over them, or else placed upon a chair, bed, or other article of furniture, thus taking up much room, and being frequently in the way, whereas with my movable legs they may be either grouped about the trunk, resting partially thereon, as ,shown in Fig. 3, or else be converted into independent stands, as in Fig. 2, and in either case they will be sup- 8o ported firmly, and with very little danger of being accidentally upset, while their elevation from the floor is at the height most convenient for access. Those trays having four legs can be as conveniently rested against the angle of the trunk-frame as can the two-leg trays shown in Fig. 3, because the legs not used can be conveniently folded against 'the side, as shown in Fig. 4, vand the trunk-frame will keep them from dropping down and get- 9o ting in the way.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. An independent detachable trunk-tray provided with folding legs secured to the outer sides or ends of the tray, with stops or housings to limit their outward spread, and adapted to fold along the outside of the tray, f iee Ahave hereunto set my hand, ou this 20th day' from Jshe bottom, substantially as set forzth; of March, 1883, in the presence of two Wit- 2. In combination with a trunk-tray, the nesses. housings D, secured thereto, and the folding SIGISMUND M. MICHELSON.

5 legs C, pivoted iu said housings, substantially Vitnesses:

us set forth. H. G. UNDERWooD,

hitestimouy that I claim the foregoing I M. KAUMHEIMER. 

